Confessions of a Cartel Hit Man - Martin Corona with Tony Rafael (Book)

Title: Confessions of a Cartel Hit Man

Authors: Martin Corona with Tony Rafael

Publisher: Dutton

Publication Date: July 25, 2017

ISBN: 9781101984628

Category: True Crime / Memoir / Organized Crime

Confessions of a Cartel Hit Man is a gripping memoir detailing the life of Martin Corona, an American who transformed from a Boy Scout and Little League player into a feared assassin for Mexico’s notorious Tijuana drug cartel. Co-authored with crime writer Tony Rafael, the book offers an unflinching look into the brutal world of cartel violence and the personal journey of a man seeking redemption.

Corona’s descent into the criminal underworld began at age 12, leading him to become a leader of an elite group of hitmen operating across the U.S.–Mexico border. His crew executed targeted killings with ruthless efficiency, often returning to Mexico the same day. The memoir provides firsthand accounts of these operations, including the accidental shooting of a cardinal during a mission targeting El Chapo at an airport.

After years of violence, Corona turned state’s evidence, playing a pivotal role in the 2006 arrest of cartel leader Javier Arellano-Félix and the subsequent downfall of the Tijuana cartel. Special Agent Steve Duncan, who pursued Corona for years and wrote the book’s foreword, acknowledges Corona’s genuine remorse, noting him as the only former cartel hitman he knows who is truly repentant.

Critics have praised the memoir for its raw and candid portrayal of cartel life. Kirkus Reviews describes it as “an unusual, self-aggrandizing, ground-level look at the dangerous milieu of Mexican cartels,” offering readers an insider’s perspective on the operations and psyche of a cartel assassin.